Lor>$ 


Conf  Pam  12mo  #676 


No.  95. 

ANECDOTES  FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS. 

No.  2. 


Gratitude  for  our  Victories — How  best  to  express 
it. — Gratitude,  the  fruit  of  love,  is  the  noblest  passion 
of  the  human  soul.  It  brings  happiness  in  the  ratio 
of  its  depth  and  purity,  and  the  dignity  of  the  object 
toward    whom    it   is  exercised. 

The  citizens  of  Mobile  showed  true  gratitude  to  God 
for  our  late  victories  before  Richmond,  by  a  munifi- 
cent contribution  of  ten  thousand  dollars  to  relieve  the 
wounded  and  sick  soldiers  who  nobly  fought  and  suf- 
fered  on    that  occasion. 

How  full  was  the  fountain  of  gratitude  in  the  heart  of 
that  worthy  Georgian,  who  gave  so  many  casks  of  rice  to 
relieve  the  wives  and  children  of  the  soldiers  who  fought 
and  won  on  the  same  occasion. 

Now  run  the  contrasts  between  these  expressions  of 
gratitude  and  those  extravagant  feasts  for  the  rich  — 
grand  balls  —  the  waste  of  gunpowder  and  great  con- 
sumption of  wines  and  mean  liquors;  grand  serenades 
and  brilliant  processions,  and  speeches  of  fulsome  flat- 
teries of  mere  human  prowess  and  skill.  The  former 
create  a  thousand  springs  of  holy  gratitude  and  joy, 
which  shall  flow  as  long  as  life  and  memory  endured. 
The  latter,  evanescent  as  the  fumes  of  wine,  pa^s  away 
in  a  few  brief  hours,  leaving  no  moral  or  physical  bless- 
ing to  cheat  life's  toilsome  journey. 


A  ANECDOTES   FOR  OL'K   SOLDIERS. 

Visiting  the  sick',  feeding  the  poor,  and  heal  n lt  the 
wounds  of  the  patriot  soldier,  we  not  only  do  seivice  for 
the  cause  of  our  bleeding  country,  but  we  do  it  unto 
God. 

It  is  a  token  of  coming  victories  and  speedy  peace, 
to  know  that  the  leading  officers  of  our  army  and  our 
government  have  an  abiding  sense  of  dependence  and 
trust  in  God.  Let  al!  our  people  and  our  armies  follow 
such  noble  examples.  Let  us  be  ua  nation  whose  God 
is  the  Lord."  Thus,  having  peace  with  God  as  a  nation, 
lie  will  make  our  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  us.  Let 
us  show  ourselves  worthy  of  the  boon  we  fight  for,  then 
our  gratitude  to  God  lor  victories  and  for  peace  will  be 
a  deep  and  perennial  fountain  flowing  on  for  many  gen- 
erations. 

May  God  give  us  grace  and  strength  to  do  our  duty, 
then  shall  the  invader  flee  from  our  soil  forever,  and  our 
husbands,  sons,  and  brothers  soon  return  to  greet  their 
loved   ones  at  home. 


Soldiers  of  the  South. — Soldiers  of  the  South,  Na- 
poleon told  l)is  warriors  in  Egypt  that  from  ihe  summit 
of  the  pyramids  forty  Centuries  looked  down  upon  them. 
Without  the  language  of  rhetorical  exaggeration,  we 
can  say  to  you  that  from  ten  thousand  anxious  homes 
the  eyes  of  mothers,  sisters,  wives,  and  children  are 
looking  upon  you — looking  upon  you.  their  brave  and 
beloved — looking  upon  you  as  their  only  help  and  hope, 
sjive  that  God  in  whose  hands  are  the  issues  of  battles, 
and  to  whose  Almighty  Throne  arise  day  and  night 
those  prayers  of  faith  which  he  has  promised  to  answer 
and  to  bless.  Inspired  by  such  reflections,  let  our  gal- 
lant   sons  of  the   South  once  more  give   their   glorious 


ANECDOTES  FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS.  8 

banners  fo  the  breeze,  and  let  the  resolve  of  ever}-  heart 
be  "victory  or  death."  The  whole  South  looks  on;  the 
world  looks  on;  the  fate  of  future  generations  trembles 
in  the  balance.  Never  did  such  calamities  visit  a  civil- 
ized and  christian  people  as  those  which  now  threaten 
every  Southern  home,  and  which  can  only  be  averted 
by  the  power  of  Heaven  and  your  own  strong  arms. 
The  result  we  cannot  doubt.  Now,  let  there  be  no  de- 
lay ;  not  an   hour's   procrastination;    it   may   be  now  or 


never 


General  Washington  in  Camp. — Some  thirty  years 
ago  the  New  Yorkers  were  preparing  to  celebrate  the 
4th  of  July,  and  by  a  voluntary  courtesy  one  of  his  de- 
scendants sent  the  General's  lent,  that  he  had  used 
during  the  Revolutionary  war,  to  New  York,  to  assist 
in  the  celebration.  The  General's  body-servant  brought 
it,  and  bore  a  letter  to  the  New  York  committee,  asking 
that  some  attention  should  be  paid  to  him,  which  was 
done.  He  was  a  quadroon,  but  a  fine,  dignified,  and  no- 
ble looking  old  man. 

The  tent  was  pitched  in  the  Park,  where  the  writer 
of  this  saw  it.  Shortly  afterward  he  went  up  the  Hud- 
son river  on  a  steamboat,  and  this  servant  was  on  board, 
and  told  him  some  of  the  habits  of  General  Washington 
during  the  war.  He  had  a  fixed  hour  for  rising  in  the 
morning,  and  going  to  that  part  of  his  lent  where  his 
breakfast  was  to  be  prepared  for  him,  he  would  enter 
this  place  and  take  a  chair,  and  seat  himself  by  the 
breakfast  table  in  his  morning-gown,  and  with  the  Holy 
Bible  before  him,  and  read  until  breakfast  time,  and 
when  his  man  would  say  to  him,  "General,  your  break- 
fast is  ready,"   the  General  would  draw  oui  of  the  book 


ANECDOTES   FOR   OCR  SOLDIERS. 


ace 


a  silk  ribbon  that  was  bound  with  the  book,  and  pi 
il  between  the  last  pages  which  he  had  been  reading. 
The  servant  then  brought  his  boots,  which  he  would 
immediately  draw  on,  throw  off  his  morning-gown,  and 

put  on  his  military  coat,  and  mount  his  horse,  which 
was  ready  at  the  door.  Then  won  hi  commence  the  la- 
bors of  the  day.  This  is  a  true  account  of  the  camp 
life  of  General  Washington  during  the  Revolution. 


Christian  Experience  in  Battle. — There  are  facts 
in  the  autobiography  of  Rev.  John  Haime,  which  strik- 
ingly illustrate  the  power  of  a  vital  christian  experi- 
ence to  strengthen,  and  cheer,  and  gladden  the  soul 
even  amidst  scenes  of  carnage.  We  quote  them,  that 
our  brethren  who  are  called  into  the  war  maybe  incited 
to  rise  to  the  height  of  their  privilege  as  sons  of  God. 

With  respect  to  the  battle  between  the  French  and 
English  at  Dettengen,  our  author  says: 

"It  was  very  bloody;  thousands  on  each  side  were 
sent  to  their  long  home.  I  had  no  sooner  joined  the  re- 
giment than  my  left  hand  man  was  shot  dead.  I  cried 
to  God,  and  said,  '  In  thee  have  I  trusted;  let  me  never 
be  confounded!'  My  heart  was  filled  with  love,  peace, 
and  joy,  more  than  tongue  can  express.  I  was  in  a  new 
world.  I  could  truly  say,  'Unto  you  that  believe  He  is 
precious/     I  stood   the  fire  of  the  enemy  seven  hours." 

In  the  battle  at  Fontenoy,  his  brethren  in  the  faith 
achieved  triumphs  no  less  signal  over  the  terrors  of  the 
field.  "When  wounded,  some  cried  out,  'I  am  going  to 
my  beloved;'  and  others,  'Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come 
quickly.'  "  Of  one  who  said,  "  I  have  gOt  a  sore  wound," 
he  asked,  "Have  you  got  Christ  in  your  heart?"  and  the 


ANECDOTES  FOR  OTR  SOLDIKRS.  9 

answer  was  "'I  have,  and  I  have  had  Him  all  this  day." 
Another,  "having  both  his  legs  taken  off  by  a  cannon 
ball,  was  laid  across  a  cannon  to  die;  where,  as  Jong-  as 
he  could  speak,  he  was  praising  God  and  blessing-  Him 
with  joyful  lips."  And  our  author  adds:  "I  have  seen 
many  good  and  glorious  days,  with  much  of  the  power 
of  God;  but  I  never  saw  more-  of  it  than  this  day. 
The  hotter  the  battle  grew,  the  more  strength  was 
given  me." 

If  the  Christian  men  who  have  rallied  to  the  standard 
of  the  South,  in  large,  perhaps  unprecedented  propor- 
tions, should  realize,  when  the  hour  of  peril  comes,  the 
calm  of  this  "peace  which  passeth  understanding-,"  the 
thrill  of  this  "joy  which  is  unspeakable  and  full  of 
glory/'  their  arms  can  not  fail  to  achieve  whatever  lies 
within  the  reach  of  a  dauntless  courage  and  the  deserts 
of  a  righteous  cause.  "The  Lord,  mighty  in  battle," 
will  war  for  them;  and  if  they  fall — entering  into  the 
rest  that  remains  for  His  people — they  will  bequeath  to 
their  country  freedom  and  the  imperishable  glory  of 
their  Christian  heroism. 

It  is  an  expansion  of  the  truth  underlying  these  ex- 
amples, not  a  transition  from  it,  to  recall  the  necessity 
of  national  purity  to  national  prosperity.  "Righteous- 
ness exalteth  a  nation,"  is  the  testimony  of  Holy  Writ; 
and,  following  the  vein  of  that  passage,  the  poet  sings: 

"■  All  true  glory  rests, 
All  praise  of  safety,  and  all  happiness, 
Upon  the  moral  law.     Egyptian  Thebes, 
Tyre  by  the  margin  of  the  sounding  sea, 
Palmyra  central  in  the  desert,  fell  ! 
And  the  arts  died  by  which  they  had  been  raised," 


ANECDOTES  FOR  OtfR   SOLDIERS. 

THE    DYING    ALABAMIAN.* 

IiV    (;.  W.  ALEXANDER,  CAPTAIN,  AND    A.    P. 

I  ii:\7.r(\  upOD  his  pallid  brow, 

i  Ii>  eyes  grew  dim  with  tears ; 
"  Have  vim  a  wife,  my  friend?"  said  I, 
'•Ah!  one  I  'vc  loved  for  years. 

"And  she  is  lone,  yet  not  alone; 
My  babes  around  her  cling, 
And  wheo  they  call  on  father's  name, 
What  tidings  shall  she  bring? 

"Alone!  afar!  in  strangers'  hands, 
I  helpless,  feeble,  lav  ; 

But  friends  around,  they  cool  my  wound  ; 
I  bless  the  glorious  tiny. 

"  When  vandal  hosts,  with  many  boasts. 
Pollute  our  happy  land, 
True  Southern  hearts  shall  foil  their  arts, 
And  beat  back  the  hireling  band. 

"  But  I  grow  weak  —  my  heart  is  sick  — 
Death's  clammy  touch  is  nigh  ; 
daughter,  I  bless  thy  kindness  here  — 
For  Uberty  I  die!" 

Reader,  tin-  story  soon  h  told: 

The  warrior  is  at  pe 
The  soil  he  shed  his  Life's  blood  for 

Now  closes  o'er  his  breast 

The  mother,  watching,  Bits  at  home; 

The  little  cot  looks  gaj  j 
But  father,  ah  !  he'll  come  no  more  — 

lie  died  that  glorious  day. 


*  The  incident  whiVh  suggested  tin-  composition;  occurred  while 
the  wife  of  the  writer  had  charge  of  an  impromptu  hospital, and  wai 
nursing  ^ome  Alabama  soldiers. 


ANECDOTES   FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS.  / 

Christian  Consolation  in  Battle. — When  we  think 
upon  many  recent  battles  it  cheers  the  heart  to  reflect 
now  man}'  Christian  warrior.?  stood  within  the  ranks 
marshalled  upon  our  battle  plains.  The  vast  fountain 
of  a  Saviour's  blood  flowed  freely  there;  and  many  an 
expiring  soldier's  cheek  (when  there  was  none  to  naze 
upon  it)  was  doubtless  tinged  with  that  brightness 
which  covered  the  almost  glorified  face  of  Stephen, 
when  "all  that  sat  in  the  council,  looking  steadfastly 
upon  him,  saw  his  face  as  it  had  been  the  face  of  an 
angel.  Doubtless  many  a  Christian  soldier  fought  his 
las?  figbt  upon  the  fields  of  Donelson  and  Shiloh. 
Many  a  quivering  lip  exclaimed  there,  with  St.  Paul, 
"Thanks,  be  to  God,  who  hath  given  me  the  victory, 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Ye--  !  how  many  a 
believing  look  and  touch  of  faith  and  cry  for  mercy  our 
Saviour  graciously  answered  in  those  battles,  will  only 
be  known  in  the  day  when  the  "Trumpet  shall  sound, 
and  the  dead  shall  be  raised  incorruptible,  and  we  shall 
be  changed."  For  although  Satan,  the  great  enemy  of 
our  salvation,  with  his  host  of  evil  spirits,  must  have 
been  almost  visible  there,  pouring  his  maddening  influ- 
ences into  every  bosom  he  could  enter — rage,  rev 
cruelty,  hatred,  every  deadly  passion  with  its  long  train 
of  evil  deeds,  revelling  and  exulting;  still  there  also^ 
were  ministering  angels  sent  to  "minister  to  the  heirs 
of  salvation."  There  was  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Com- 
forter, whispering  sweet  comfort  to  the  dying  believer; 
pointing  to  those  realms  of  peace  and  rest  which  remain 
for  the  children  of  God. 

And  there,  also,  oh,  blissful  thought  !  many  a  dying 
soldier  beheld  with  the  eye  of  faith  the  "  Lamb  of  God, 
who  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world."  "  To-day 
shalt  thou  be  with  Me  in  Paradise,"   was  the  Saviour's 


s  ANECDOTES  for  OUR  BOLDIESS. 

gracious  reply  to  many  an  upward  look.  Then  did  the 
Redeemer  "see  of  the  travail  of  bis  soul  and  was  satis- 
lied;"  and  great  must  have  been  the  joy,  and  sweet  the 
song  of  the  angels  before  the  throne  of  God,  over  many 
a  repentant  sinner  saved  by  grace,  even  amidst  the  very 
strife  of  battle. 

I  remember  reading  a  most  strikingly  beautiful  anec- 
dote of  an  incident  which  occurred  on  board  of  one  of 
the  Jine-of-battle  ships  at  the  battle  of  Trafalgar,  The 
ship  had  just  fired  a  tremendous  broadside  against  the 
enemy  ;  and  so  terrific  had  been  the  concussion,  that 
the  ship  itself  was  actually  felt  by  those  on  board  ,to 
leap  as  it  were  from  the  water  at  the  violence  of  it. 
All  was  smothering  darkness  from  the  smoke.  A  deadly 
quietness  and  stillness  for  a  moment  prevailed,  when  an 
officer  stationed  near  one  of  the  guns  heard  a  calm, 
peaceful  voice  near  him  exclaim  :  "  He  fnaketh  me  to 
lie  down  in  green  pastures,  He  leadeth  me  beside  the 
still  waters."  In  another  instant  all  was  noise,  carnage, 
and  death.  After  the  engagement,  the  officer  whose  life 
was  spared,  deeply  impressed,  sought,  alas  !  in  vain,  for 
the  man  whose  lips  hail  uttered  those  peaceful  words; 
but  that  voice  was  hushed,  that  happy  spirit  had  gained 
the  haven  of  eternal  rest. 


Va'jku,  I c  ii  Rufe  Dicii  ! — A  Battle  Prayer,  by  Theo- 
dore Korner,  the  poet  hero  of  the  •'  War  of  Liberation," 
born  September  21,  17UJ,  at  Dresden.  On  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war  against  Napoleon,  he  enlisted  us  a 
volunteer  in  Lutzow's  corps,  aiding  the  cause  of  free- 
dom by  the  strength  of  his  arm  and  the  power  of  his 
muse.      He  fell  in  a  skirmish  near  the  Village  of  Gaden- 


ANECPOTKS   FOR   OUR  SOLDIERS.  9 

bush,  on  the  26th  of  August,  181*J.  The  fiery  tone  per- 
vading his  lyrics,  and  the  brilliant  valor  of  the  young- 
volunteer,  have  procured  him  a  greater  fame  in  Ger- 
many than  usually  falls  to  the  share  of  one  who  dies  so 
young.  Says  Godeche,  "  The  fatal  bullet  deprived  them 
of  a  man,  but  left  to  the  youth  of  Germany  the  inspir- 
ing recollection  of  a  hero."  We  give  below  an  English 
version  of  one  o(  Ins  most,  interesting  productions.  The 
translation  is  by  H.  W.  Dulcken,  published  in  London, 
1S5G,  and  never  before  printed  in  this  country  : 

Father,  I  cry  to  thee  ! 
Cannon  smoke  rolleth  in  clouds  o'er  me  roaring, 
War's  jetting  lightnings  around  me  are  pouring, 
Lord  of  the  battle,  1  cry  to  the — 

Father,  oh  lead  thou  me  ! 

Father,  oh  lead  thou  me  ! 
Lead  me  as  victor  by  death  when  I  'm  riven. 
Lord,  I  acknowledge  the  law  thou  hast  given  : 
Even  as  thou  wilt,  Lord,  so  lead  thou  me — 


God,  I  acknowledge  th 


>  i 


ee 

God,  I  acknowledge  thee  ! 
So  where  the  autumn  leaves  rustle  around  me. 
So  when  the  thunders  of  battle  surround  me, 
Fountain  of  grace,  I  acknowledge  thee — 

Father,  oh  bless  thou  me  ! 

Father,  oh  bless  thou  me  ! 
Into  thy  care  commend  I  my  spirit  : 
Thou  canst  reclaim  what  from  thee  I  inherit ; 
Living  or  dying,  still  bless  thou  me — 

Father,  I  worship  thee  ! 


Importance  of  a  Good  Cause. — Says  Napier  in  his 
Peninsular  War,  "A  cause  manifestly  unjust  is  a  heavy 


10 


ANECDOTES   FOR   OUR    SOLDIER*. 


weight  upon  the  operations  of  a  general  ;   it  reconciles 

men  lo  desertion — it  sanctifies  want  of  zeal  and  is  a 
pretext  for  cowardice;  it  renders  hardships  more  irk- 
some, dangers  more  obnoxious,  an  !  glory  less  satisfac- 
tory lo  the  mind  of  the  soldier/'  If  this  be  so,  our 
soldiers  should  fight  with  a  bravery  ami  fortitude  un- 
paralleled  in  the  annals  of  the  world  :  for  never  had 
men  so  cood  -a  cause. 


The  Battle  of  Dranesville. — This  letter  is  written 
with  all  ilie  freedom  of  the  most  private  correspondence, 
[t  was   never  designed  for   the  public  eye,  nor   should  it 

have  seen  the  light  hut  for  one  thing — it  sliows  the  power 
of  faith  to  sustain  the  Christian  amid  the  shock  of  battle 
and  in  the  most  imminent  perils.  I  know  that,  many 
soldiers  will  read  this,  and  I  sincerely  trust  that  every 
one  of  them  may  see  this  and  seek  strength  where  it 
may  be  found.  Noble  countrymen!  would  l-o  God  you 
were  ail  Christian  soldiers. 

"  Centreville,   December  30,   1861. 
"My  dear  Brother:     We  received   your  kind   letters 

tin's  morning-  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  E.  I  would 
have  written  earlier,  but  1  have  been  very  busy  since 
we  came  to  this  camp.  At  first  we  had  to  throw  up 
fortifications,  and  of  late  we  have  been  busy  with  our 
winter  quarters.  *  *.  *  *  *  *  1  had  yesterday 
(sabbath)  almost  entirely  to  myself — quite  a  treat,  as  I 
have  been  on  duty  every  sabbath  for  more  than  two 
months.  I  left  the  camp,  where  nothing  but  the  axe 
was  to  be  heard,  and  strolled  off  by  myself.  1  did  not 
return  till  late  in  the  evening,  as  1  did  not  wish  any  din- 
ner.    I    suppose  ere   this    you   have  heard   most  of  the 


ANECDOTES  FOR  OUR   SOLDIERS.  II 

particulars  of  the  late  engagement*      I  wrote  a  detailed 

account  of  it  to  mother  last  week.  It  appears  that  the 
enemy  had  three  brigades  at  Dranesvilie,  and  got  some  of 
tlic  inhabitants  to  inform  General  Befauregard  that  there 
were  four  hundred  Yankees  there,  driving  off  caitie  and 

collecting  forage.  General  Stewart  was  dispatched  with 
four  regiments  and  one  battery,  to  capture  them.  After 
lie  found  out  their  strength,  he  was  compelled  to  make 
the  attack  to  prevent  their  cutting  off  his  train  of  two 
hundred  wagons.  The  attack  was  so  determined,  that 
they,  fearing  that  we  were  advancing  in  force,  c<  ased 
firing  about  the  same  time  we  did,  and  double-quicked 
off  the  ground. 

Our  regiment,  all  things  considered,  did  well.  Gene- 
ral S.  said  we  "fought  like  devils/'  and  that  he  in- 
tended giving  us  credit  in  his  report.  1  suppose  he 
thought  he  paid  us  a  compliment.  For  my  part,  I  hope 
I  fought  like  a  Christian.  I  have  so  often  prepared 
myself  for  such  a  trial,  that  I  was  soon  ready  for  what- 
ever might  come.  Of  course  I  thought  of  it  much  on 
the  march,  and  when  in  a  low  tone  we  were  bid  ;*  load 
and  prepare  for  action,"  I  prayed  fervently  for  eoura°;e, 
and  that  I  might  be  resigned  to  God's  will,  whatever  it 
was.  During  the  whoie  of  the  battle  J.  was  perfectly 
coo!  and  self-possessed.  Not  one  time  did  I  feel  like 
shrinking  from  my  post.  Once  during  the  thickest  of 
the  fight,  when  the  chances  of  life  seemed  desperate, 
a  ball  grazed  my  head,  and  others  were  cutting  the 
ground  about  me;  as  I  lay  on  the  ground,  a  thought  of 
home  and  the  dear  ones  far  away  came  into  my  mind  j 
it  was  only  for  a  moment,  however,,  and  I  was  again 
busily  engaged  in  hurling  the  missiles  of  death  into  the 
ranks  of  the  foe.  1  fired  six  times  standing  on  ray 
knees,  and    taking  deliberate  aim   at   the  smoke  of  their 


12 


ANECDOTES   FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS. 


guns  (they  were  lying  down  and  could  rarely  be  seen), 
and  I  am  pretty  sure  I  did  not  miss  every  time.  Ji  was 
as  I  wished.  I  never  desired  to  see  a  man  fall  before  my 
aim.     There  were  three  regiments  firing  on  ours— one  of 

them  the  famous  Bucktail  Rides  (regulars)j  and  the 
Alabamians,  who  witnessed  the  effect  of  our  fire,  said  it 
was  dreadful.  Surgeon  B.,  who  examined  the  ground 
next  day,  says  that  my  company  must  have  been  in  the 
hottest  of  the  fight  —  every  bush  where  we  fay  was  cut 
down.  I  remember  that  I  could  see  to  shoot  much  better 
toward  the  last  than  at  first.  I  attributed  it  to  the  smoke 
clearing  off.  Oh,  how  thankful  I  feel  to  my  heavenly 
Father,  for  his  protection  and  svpport.  When  we  thank 
Him  for  his  providential  care,  let  us  not  forget  to  ask 
Him  for  the  courage  to  perform  our  duty." 


The  writer  of  the  preceding  letter  has  since  been 
severely  wounded  and  his  younger  brother  and  two 
cousins  killed  in  the  battles  near  Richmond. 


Texts  for  the  Times. —  1.  In  the  time  of  trouble  He 
shall  hide  me  in  His  pavilion  :  in  the  secret  of  his  Tab- 
ernacle shall  He  hide  me;  He  shall  set  me  up  on  a 
rock.     Ps.  xxvii,  5. 

2.  Wait  on  the  Lord:  be  of  good  courage,  and  lie 
shall  strengthen  thine  heart;  wait,  I  say,  on  the  Lord. 
Ps.  xxvii,  14. 

3.  O  my  God,  I  trust  in  thee;  let  me  not  be  ashamed ; 
let  not  mine  enemies  triumph  over  me.      Ps.  xxv,  2. 

4.  The  Lord  is  my  strength  and  my  shield;  my  heart 
trusted  in  Him,  and  I  am  helped.      Ps.  xxviii,  7. 


ANECDOTES   FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS.  I  3 

5.  The  Lord  will  give  strength  unto  his  people:  the 
Lord  will  bless  his  people  with  peace.      Ps.  xxix,  II. 

(5.  Be  of  good  courage,  and  He  shall  strengthen  your 
heart;   all  ye  that  hope  in  the  Lord.      Ps.  xxxi,  24. 

7.  For  this  shall  every  one  that  is  godly  pray  unto 
thee  in  a  time  when  thou  rnayest  be  found;  suiely  in 
the  floods  of  great  waters  they  shall  not  come  nigh  unto 
him.     Ps.  xxxii,  6. 


Our  Cause  the  Cause  of  God — Anecdote  of  Gen- 
eral Washington. — In  1790  I  heard  the  farmer  re- 
ferred to  narrate  the  following  incident :  When  the 
British  army  held  possession  of  New  York,  and  Wash- 
ington with  the  American  army  lay  near  West  Point, 
one  morning  at  sunrise  I  went  forth  to  bring  home  the 
cows.  On  passing  a  clump  of  brushwood  [  heard  a 
moaning  sound  like  a  person  in  distress;  on  searing  the 
spot,  I  heard  the  words  of  a  man  at  prayer;  I  listened 
behind  a  tree;  the  man  Came  forth:  ir  was  George 
Washington,  the  captain  of  the  Lord's  host  in  North 
America.  This  farmer  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  who,  being  opposed  to  war  under  any  pretext, 
was  lukewarm,  and,  in  some  cases,  opposed  to  the  cause 
of  the  country;  he  was  a  Tory.  However,  having  seen 
the  General  enter  the  camp,  he  went  to  his  own  house; 
said  he  to  his  wife,  Martha,  we  must  not  oppose  this 
war  any  longer;  this  morning  I  heard  the  man  George 
Washington  send  up  a  prayer  to  heaven  for  his  country, 
and  I  know  it  will  be  heard.  This  Friend  dwelt  be- 
tween the  lines,  and  sent  Washington  many  items  con- 
cerning the  movements  of  the  enemy,  which  rendered 
good  service. 

From  this  incident  we  may  infer  that  Washington 
rose  with  the  sun  to  pray  for  his  country.  He  fought 
for  her  at  meridian,  and  watched  for  her  at  midnight. 


14  ANECDOTES   FOR  OUR   SOLDIERS. 

A  True  Patriot — The  late  Bishop  Meade. — An 
affecting  incident  occurred  during  the  closing  hours  of 
the  late  venerable  Bishop  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
Virginia.  A  distinguished  leader  of  the  Confederate 
army.  General  Lee,  whom  the  good  Bishop  had  known 
from  his  boyhood,  was  present,  when,  with  his  dying 
accents,  he  thus  addressed  him  :  tkI  have  known  you, 
General,  from  a  boy,  and  have  always  loved  you.  You 
know  how  slow  my  mind  was  in  coming  to  the  conclu- 
sion I  have  held  from  the  moment  of  Virginia's  seces- 
sion. But  sir  (with  great  solemnity),  it  is  a  righteous 
cause;  it  is  a  righteous  cause.  Do  your  utmost  for 
that  cause.  You  are  a  Christian  soldier.  Trust  in 
God,  and  (laying  his  hands  on  his  head,  as  Jacob  of  old 
laid  his  hands  on  the  head  of  Joseph)  God  will  bless 
you." 

The  stern  soldier's  face  .was  bathed  in  tears,  ;ts  were 
the  faces  of  all  present.  The  words  were  uttered  with 
the  hesitating  utterance  and"  solemn  aspect  of  a  dying- 
man  Who  can  doubt  his  duty  when  he  hears  such  a 
man  thus  speak,  one  whose  life  was  illustrious  for  piety, 
virtue,  and  wisdom,  and  who  had  been  all  his  life  long, 
up  to  the  hour  of  Lincoln's  proclamation,  one  of  the 
strongest    Union  men  in    Virginia. 

The  following  extract  from  the  funeral  sermon  deliv- 
ered on  Bishop  Meade  by  Bishop  Johns,  will  be  read 
and  pondered  with  deep  interest: 

"  For  several  days  and  .mights  his  manly  frame  bore 
the  assault  with  extraordinary  powers  of  endurance, 
and  "his  Christian  spirit,  strengthened  by  the  word  of 
God,  sustained    his   great    bodily   suffering  with   exem- 


ANECDOTES  FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS.  15 

p.'ary  patience.  'Road  me,'  lie  said  to  a  friend,  'a  por- 
tion of  the  sacred  Scriptures.'  'What  shall  I  read?' 
'The  history  of  the  crucifixion.'  And  when  this  was 
done  he  observed:  'Yes,  six  hours  did  our  Lord  suffer 
the  intense  agony  of  the  cross,  and  that  for  us — for  our 
sins — and  shall  we  complain  of  our  sufferings.  "The 
cup  which  my  Father  hath  given  me,  shall  I  not  drink 
it?"'  Throughout  the  severe  struggle  of  nature  his 
mind  was  clear,  hi?  faith  strong,  and  his  hope  steadfast. 
Few  things  impressed  me  more,  during  the  last  days 
of  his  life,  than  his  perfect  naturalness.  Affectation  in 
every  form  and  degree  was  always  disgusting  to  him — 
what  are  termed  scenes  in  connection  with  religious 
character  and  experience,  especially  on  the  supposed 
nearness  of  death,  he  regarded  with  no  favor.  He  was 
so  accustomed  to  bear  his  religion  about  him  in  all  his 
intercourse  with  men,  and  all  his  secular  business — and 
so  in  the  habit  of  bearing  both  with  him  in  his  hours  of 
devotion  at  a  throne  of  grace — that  they  were  not  kept 
separate  and  apart,  as  if  incompatible,  but  intermingled 
continually  in  his  thoughts  and  sympathies,  and  came 
out  in  close  relation  in  his  speech.  It  was  strikingly 
and  instructively  so  during  his  last  illness.  In  health 
he  habitually  thought  and  acted  as  if  there  were  but  a 
step  between  him  and  death,  judgment,  and  eternity; 
and  when  he  knew  and  said  that  the  ensuing  night  and 
following  day  would  end  his  connection  with  earth,  the 
welfare  of  his  country  and  the  interests  of  his  friends 
were  as  near  his  heart,  and  as  emphaiically  on  his  lips, 
as  if  he  expected  to  share  their  portion  here  for  many 
years.  To  one  of  his  respected  presbyters  who  was  at 
his  bedside  taking  leave  of  him,  he  thus  closed  his  sol- 
emn counsel  :  'Speak  boldly  to  your  people.  Tell  them 
to  persevere  in  sustaining  their  country  in  this  struggle. 


I<>  ANECDOTES   FOR  OUR  BOlDIERS. 

The  war  against  lis  ia  iniquitous.  I  am  persuaded  tliat 
God  is  with  us  and  will  give  us  success.' 

He  knew  that  the  courageous  spirit  of  a  living  gen- 
eral would  not  be  hindered  but  helped  by  the  presence 
and  power  of  the  constraining  love  of  Christ,  and  he 
ha8  no  fear  that  the  faith  and  purity  of  a  dying  Bishop 
would  be  impaired  by  the  glow  of  genuine  patriotism. 
lie  was  on  his  dealh-bed  precisely  what  we  all  saw  him 
to  be  in  life,  except  his  sufferings. 

On  Thursday  morning,  the  day  before  his  death,  he 
requested  others  who  were  present  to  retire  that  he 
might  communicate  something  to  me  in  private.  When 
we  were  alone  he  said  : 

'  1  wish  to  bear  "my  testimony  on  some*  things  of  im- 
portance. 

'The  views  of  evangelical  truth  and  order  which  [ 
have  held  and  advocated  for  fifty  years,  I  approve — and 
exhort  my  brethren.  North  and  South,  to  promote  more 
than  ever. 

•M.v  course  in  civil  affairs  I  also  approve  —  resist- 
ance to  secession  at  first — till  circumstances  made  it  un- 
avoidable.  I  trust  the  South  will  persevere  in  separation. 

■  I  believe  there  are  thousands  in  the  North  who 
condemn  the  course  of  their  administration  toward  us, 
and  in  time  will  express  themselves  openly. 

■  The  prospect  of  rest  from  sin  and  suffering  is  at- 
tractive, though  I  am  willing  to  remain  and  take  my 
part  in  the  labors  and  trials  which  may  be   before  us. 

•My  hope  is  in  Christ,  "the  Rock  of  Ages/''  I  have 
no  fear  of  death,  and  this  not  from  my  courage  but 
from  my  faith. 

■  The  present  seems  a  proper  time  for  my  departure. 
1  am  at  peace  with  God  through  Jesus  Christ  my  Lord, 
and  in  charity  witli  all  men,  even  our  bitterest  enemies. 


ANECDOTES  FOR  OUR  SOLDIER*.  17 

'All  that  has  ever  been  said  in  commendation  of 
me  I  loathe  and  abhor,  as  utterly  inconsistent  with  my 
consciousness  of  sin. 

'I  commend  you  and  all  my  brethren  to  the  tender 
mercies  of  Christ,  and  pray  for  His  blessings  on  the 
Church  in  Virginia.' 

When  he  ceased  I  withdrew  to  the  adjoining  room, 
and,  in  conformity  with  his  suggestion,  immediately 
committed  the  testimony  to  writing;  and  availed  myself 
of  the  earliest  opportunity  to  read  it  to  him,  and  receive 
his  affirmation  of  its  accuracy. 

Such,  beloved  brethren,  was  the  special  commission 
to  which  I  referred,  and  from  the  painful  execution  of 
which  I  could  not  shrink. 

The  message  is  duly  delivered.  The  weighty  words 
of  the  wise  leader— his  legacy  of  love— are  with  you. 

Death  has  since  sealed  his  lips  in  silence.  He  has 
fought  a  good  fight  —  finished  his  course  — kept  the 
faith— received  the  crown  of  righteousness,  and  entered 
in  his  glorious  rest,  [f  the  gift  which  I  covet  for  you 
and  myself,  'a  double  portion  of  his  spirit,'  depended 
on  the  condition  named  to  Elisha,  that  blessing  would 
be  ours  —  for  I  witnessed  his  departure,  and  cried  from 
my  heart:  'My  father,  my  father,  'he  chariot  of  Israel 
and  the  horsemen  thereof.'  " 


The  Dying  Words  of  our  Fallen  Heroes  —  Living 
Mottoes  for  the  Brave.— Let  the  spirit  of  our  many 
brave,  and,  we  believe,  Christian  men,  animate  to  deeds 
of  patriotic  valor  every  Confederate  soldier.  Let  the 
dying  words  of  the  Rev.  Captain  Harrison,  who  received 
five  bullets  —  the  fifth  directly  through  his  breast  \vhil« 


18  ANECDOTES  FOR  OIR  SOLD1KKS. 

cheering  anf|  leading  on  his  men — ring  in  each  clans- 
man's ears  :  "  Company  l  K,'  you  have  no  captain  now, 
but  never  give  up  —  never  surrender!"  Let  the  dying 
words  of  his  brother,  Peyton,  who  fell  in  a  perilous  but 
splendid  and  victorious  charge  at  Manassas,  pierced  in 
the  breast:  "  Lay  me  down  —  I  am  ready  to  die  —  you 
can  do  no  more  for  me;  rally  to  the  charge!"*  arouse 
every  patriotic  emotion,  like  a  peal  of  thunder,  or  as 
a  voice  from  heaven. 

Let  the  last  words  of  the  gallant  Bee  become  the 
watchword  of  every  Southern  heart  :  "  Let  us,  fellow- 
soldiers,  determine  to  die  here,  and  we  will  conquer" 
Let  Bartow's  dying  words,  as  he  fell,  leading  up  his 
regiment  to  the  assault  of  a  battery:  u  Boys,  they  have 
killed  me,  but  never  give  up  this  field  to  the  enemy," 
be  "engraved  in  your  heart  of  hearts,"  f  and  thus 

"  Snatch  from  the  ashes  of  our  sires 
The  embers  of  their  former  fires  ; 
And  he  who  in  the  strife  expires 
Will  add  to  theirs  a  name  of  fear, 
That  tyranny  will  quake  to  hear." 

*  See  "The  Confederate  Hero." 

■f  The  Richmond  Dispatch  says:  General  Bartow  died  a  noble  and 
brave  death.  He  first  received  a  shot  which  shattered  one  of  his 
feet;  but  even  in  this  disabled  condition  he  maintained  his  place  at 
the  head  of  his  men.  He  had  reached  a  fence  which  crossed  the 
direction  of  his  charge,  and  was  supporting  himself,  waving  his 
sword  and  cheering  his  gallant  band  on  to  the  fight,  when  some  mis- 
creant's ball  pierced  his  brave  heart. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  the  recent  batttle  is  variously  estimated 
at  from  live  to  ten  thousand.  Our  own  loss,  which  was  estimated  at 
five  hundred,  will,  I  think,  be  less,  as  many  who  have  been  reported 
dead  are  stiil  living.  General  Bartow  fell  before  Sherman's  battery. 
A  company  he  had  formerly  commanded — the  Oglethorpe  Light  In- 
fantry, of  Savannah —  were  lying  on  their  backs  loading  their  mus- 
kets, when  a  perfect   storm  of  balls  came  in  among  them,  wounding 


ANECDOTES  FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS.  19 

Our  Christian  Soldiers. — Messrs.  Editors:  The  fol- 
lowing extracts  from  a  private  letter,  although  never  in- 
tended for  the  public  eye,  by  request  are  placed  at  your 
disposal.  Let  every  reader  mark  the  spirit  and  tone  of 
the  true  patriot.  Can  such  spirit  be  conquered?  Such 
may  fall  in  the  deadly  conflict,  but  their  children  will 
shoulder  the  musket,  "and,  if  needs  be,  die  in  the  same 
glorious  cause."  A**. 

"Corinth,  Miss.,  March  17,  1862. 

•*'  My  Dear  S.  :  It  has  been  my  unhappy -lot  to  be 
in  suspense  for  more  than  two  months.  I  have  written 
you  often,  and  on  every  possible  occasion. 

"I  have  been  marching  for  thirty  days,  and  have  at 
last  come  to  a  hajt.  We  arrived  here  on  yesterday  from 
Decatur,  which  place  we  left  on  Tuesday  last.  We 
have  suffered  much  during  our  march,  but  not  to  be 
compared   to  our  forefathers  of  '?(>. 

"I,  for  one,  am  willing  to  suffer  for  y<  ars,  and  be  de- 
prived of  all  luxuries,  save  enough  of  the  staff' of  life  to 
support  me.  I,  for  one,  will  never  submit  to  Lincoln's 
rule.  I  am  willing  to  die  for  the  Confederacy,  and 
should  this  be  my  lot,  feel  that  I  had  died  in  a  glorious 
cause. 

"We  are  expecting  a  big  fight  here  in  a  few  days, 
perhaps    it   may  commence  to-morrow;    and   I  have  no 

many  of  them.  He  seemed  perfectly  infuriated  at  this  havoc  among 
his  proteges,  and,  sizing  the  colors,  rushed  forward,  saying  "  he 
would  take  Sherman's  battery,  or  die  in  the  attempt."  It  was  with 
his  second  wound  he  fell  —  the  first  one  having  injured  his  foot. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati  Gazette  reports,  concerning  the 
ill-fated  Garnett : 

When  the  rebel  general  was  shot,  he  was  on  foot,  waving  his  men 
back  to  the  conflict.  He  had  waded  the  Cheat  river,  on  foot,  with 
his  men,  and  when  he  fell  his  pantaloons  were  all  dripping  with 
water. 


20  ANECDOTES    FOR    OTR    SOLDIERS. 

;>t  but  it  will  last  two  or  three  days,  unless  we  are 
.«■  cessful  and  drive  the  enemy  hack  into  his  gunbo.i 
We  have  a  very  strong  force  here  now,  which  is  in- 
C  easing  rapidly  every  day.  We  feel  confident  of  suc- 
cess, notwithstanding  our  late  reverses.  1  pray  God  to 
aid  us  in  our  holy  cause.  If  He  is  for  us,  we  may  defy 
the  whole  world.  He  will  shield  and  protect  us  from  all 
harm. 

I  may  be  killed  in  battle  —  God  only  knows,  I  pray 
thai  I  may  be  spared,  not  for  my  sake,  but  for  the  sake 
of  my  bleeding  country,  my  dear  wife,  and  lovely  chil- 
dren. But  if  it  be  necessary  for  me  to  die,  I  shall  die 
with   my  face    toward    the    enemy \   and  should    the   war 

continue   fifteen  or  twenty  y.ear§,  I  desire  W to  be 

sent  to  a  military  academy  until  he  is  able  to  join  the 
army — then  I  wish  him  to  shoulder  his  musket  and,  if  need 
be,  die  in  the  same  glorious  cause. 


A  Scene  at  Richmond. — But.  yesterday,  tin-  finest 
bodies  of  troops  I  have  ever  seen  marched  through  our 
streets  to  join  their  fortunes  with  those  already  on  the 
peninsula.  It  was  announced  from  the  pulpits  that  they 
would  be  here  at  certain  hours,  and  hungry.  When  they 
arrived,  Richmond  turned  out  with  the  fat  of  the  land, 
and  fed  her  defenders  sumptuously.  All  the  market 
baskets  in  town  were  groaning  with  provisions.  Even 
meat  wagons  were  crowjed  with  delicate  and  substan- 
tial edibles.  Here  you  could  see  a  soldier  with  a  loaf  in 
one  hand  and  a  beef's  tongue  in  the  other;  there,  another 
with  his  pie  and  tenderloin  j  and  yonder,  a  third  feasting 
upon  turkey  or  cold  chicken.  The  numbers  to  be  sup- 
plied wore  great,  but  the  miracles  of  the  loaves  and  the 
fishes  seemed  to  have  been   enacted  over  again.     And 


ANECDOTES   FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS.  21 

when  satiated,  they  were  regaled  with  the  best  Ha- 
vannas  in  our  market.  The  fairer  portion  of  creation 
were  there  in  mass,  waiting  upon  the  hungry  and  way- 
worn, chatting  with  them,  cheering  and  encouraging 
them,  and  the  latter  seemed  to  have  been  more  than 
inspired  by  such  attentions — for  the  brave  always  love 
the  fair.  In  the  midst  of  this  brief  season  of  recreation 
and  amusement,  the  President  arrived.  In  his  own  pe- 
culiar and  inimitably  eloquent  manner,  he  addressed  the 
champions  of  our  cause;  and  as  sentence  followed  sen- 
tence, there  were  cheers  after  cheers — clenched  fists 
and  fiery  eyes  to  respond.  It  was  one  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful addresses  to  which  I  have  ever  listened:  solemn, 
impressive,  bold,  defiant,  and  self-reliant.  He  told  the 
men  that  they  could  be  outnumbered,  perhaps  two  to 
one;  but  with  such  material,  he  had  no  fears  as  to 
the    result. 

And  in  conclusion,  raising  his  voice  to  Demosthenic 
beauty,  "You,"  said  he,  "who  carry  witli  you  mothers' 
blessings  and  affections,  may  the  God  of  armies  ami 
battles  guide  and  protect  you  in  prosecuting  the  noblest 
cause  ever  entrusted  to  freemen!" 


A  Picture  too  Eloquent  for  Words. — On  the  out- 
skirts of  the  pretty  little  Yiilage  of  Citronelle,  on  the 
Mobile  and  Ohio  railroad,  as  the  1 7th  Regiment  Ala- 
bama Volunteers  passed  rapidly  by,  my  eye  was  at- 
tracted to  a  house  not  far  from  the  road,  and  then  my 
attention  was  instantly  riveted  in  admiration,  by  one  of 
those  natural  pictures  which  never  fail  to  arrest  the  at- 
tention of  every  beholder;  a  picture,  though  silent,  yet 
more  eloquent  than  any  words  can  ever  be. 

A  young  arid  beautiful  mother  stood  on  the  piazza,  her 


22  ANECDOTES   FOR   OUR  SOLDIERS. 

eyes  toward  heaven,  turned  as  if  silently  breathing  a 
prayer,  whilst  in  her  arms  she  held  Up  to  the  view  of 
the  stalwart  soldiers  her  darling  babe;  not  a  word  was 
said  by  the  mother,  not  a  shout  wasTieard  from  the  sol- 
diers. Voice  answered  not  unto  voice,  but  heart  an- 
swered unto  heart,  through  the  curious  mesmerism  of 
the  soul.  As  quick'  as  lightning  flash,  eyes  unused  to 
weep  were  filled  with  tears.  The  fabled  power  of  a 
magician's  wand  could  not  have  wrought  so  suddenly 
such  an  effect.  Though  she  uttered  not  one  word,  this 
mother,  by  this  living,  breathing,- moving  pictu-e,  said 
to  the  soldiers:  "My  country,  your  country,  is  invaded 
and  its  soil  polluted  by  a  ruthless  foe,  who  scorns  your 
rights  and  disregards  the  claims  of  such  as  me  and  mine. 
His  cruelties  cry  aloud  for  the  avenging  arms  of  Southern 
powers.  Save  me  and  my  child  !  Save  all  the  mothers 
and  children  from  the  foul  hand  of  such  a  foe!  Save  our 
sunny  South  from  the  vandalism  of  the  North!" 

Every  arm  in  that  stalwart  crowd  was  nerved  with 
tenfold  power.  Every  heart  resolved  to  die  in  defence 
of  our  homes,  our  wives,  and  children,  and  every  one  re- 
solved that  the  footsteps  of  the  haughty  invaders  should 
be  traced  in  blood. 

This  picture  shall  never  fade  from  our  memories. 
Those  words  never  spoken  by  human  lips  have  been 
photographed  on  our  hearts.  In  the  midst  of  the  battle 
roar,  when  the  din  and  strife  of  struggling  hosts  shall 
thicken  around  us  —  this  picture  will  again  loom  up 
before  our  eyes — this  mother  and  child  will  again  stand 
up  before  us,  types  of  those  we  love  at  home.  And  who 
would  not  die  for  such  as  these?  Our  mothers,  our 
wives,  stand  at  home  to-day,  witli  our  babes  in  their 
arms,  pleading  for  protection,  and  a  prayer  from  every, 
mother's  heart  ascends  devoutly  up  to  God  to  sbield  us 
from  all  harm. 


ANECDOTES  FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS.  23 

Trouble  the  Sinner's  Friend. — There  is  a  story 
told,  that  in  the  olden  times  Artaxerxes  and  another 
great  king  were  engaged  in  a  furious  fight.  In  the  mid- 
dle of  the  battle  a  suddtn  eclipse  happened,  and  such 
was  the  horror  of  all  the  warriors  that  l hey  made  peace 
there  and  then.  Oh,  if  an  eclipse  of  trouble  should  in- 
duce you  to  ground  arms  and  seek  to  be  reconciled  unto 
God  !  Sinner,  you  are  fighting  against  God,  lifting  the 
arm  of  your  rebellion  against  hirn.  Happy  shall  you 
be  if  that  trouble  which  is  now  fallen  upon  you  should 
lead  you  to  throw  down  the  weapons  of  your  rebellion, 
and  fly  to  the  arms  of  God  and  say:  "Lord  have  mercy 
upon  me  a  sinner."  It  will  be  the  best  thing  that  thou 
hast  ever  had.  Thy  trouble  will  be  far  better  to  thee 
than  joys  could  have  been,  if  thy  sorrows  shall  induce 
thee  to  fly  to  Jesus,  who  can  make  peace  through  the 
blood  of  his  cross. 


Stonewall  Jackson. — A  letter  from  near  Winchester, 
speaking  of  events  before  our  army  evacuated  the  place, 
says  :  At  the  Union  prayer  meeting  (of  all  denomina- 
tions) one  afternoon,  that  gallant  soldier  and  pious  man, 
General  (Stonewall)  Jackson  was  present  and  led  in  prayer. 
At  the  upper  table  some  professing  Christians,  when 
told  of  it,  expressed  regret  at  not  having  been  present. 
Had  they  known  "  that  Gen.  Jackson  was  to  have  been 
there,"  they  would  certainly  have  gone.  Alas!  they 
forgot  that  a  greater  than  Jackson,  or  any  other  mere 
man,  had  promised  to  meet  with  his  people,  even  the 
Lord  of  life  and  glory.  It  is  certainly  a  gratifying  fact, 
that  General  Jackson  is  an  active,  humble,  consistent 
Christian  —  restraining  profanity  and  sabbath-breaking — 


24  ANECDOTES  TOR  OUR  SOLDIERS. 

welcoming  army  colporteurs,  distributing  tracts,  and 
anxious  to  have  w>ry  regiment  in  his  army  supplied 
with  a  chaplain.  Would  that  all  our  leaders  were  men 
who  thus  served  God,  and  Looked  to  Him  for  help. 


Thanksgiving. — A  private  letter  received  from  a  sol- 
dier in  the  army  of  General  Jackson,  states  that  after  tin' 
battle  of  McDowell,  they  pursued  the  enemy  as  far  as 
Franklin,  in  Pendleton  county.  For  good  reasons,  the 
pursuit  there  ceased  on  Monday,  12th  inst.  Before 
starling  back,  appropriate  religious  services  were  ob- 
served in  the  army,  as  a  thanksgiving  to  God  for  blessing 
them  witli  victory.  This  was  done  by  the  arrangement 
of  their  pious  and  heroic  general.  None  but  "the fool'1'' 
who  "  hath  -said  in  his  heart  there  is  no  God"  will  have 
the  hardihood  to  insinuate,  before  an  intelligent  and 
Christian  nation,  the  sentiment  that  special  prayers,  or 
special  thanksgivings,  are  just  at  this  crisis  out  of  place — 
that  they  have  had  their  flay,  but  there  is  not  time  for 
them  now — that  action,  and  not  prayer  is  now  demanded, 
etc.  Every  man  of  sen>e  knows  that  a  true  spirit  of 
prayer  is  the  very  nerve  of  energy.  But  "  the  fool" 
wiil  turn  up  once  in  a  while,  and  often  in  the  exact  time 
when  his  master,  the  Devil,  sends  him.  It  is  a  comfort 
to  know  they  will  both  tarn  down  again  after  a  little- 
and  as  God  shows  "all  long  suffering,"  let  us  aiso  "be 
patient." 

LTo  be  continued.] 


PUBMSHKD  BY  THE  SOUTH   CAROLINA  TRACT  SO/OIETY. 

Printed  by  Evans  &  Cogswell, :;  Broad  street,  Charleston,  8.  C. 


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